Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a sweeping legislation Sunday requiring warning labels on potentially tens of thousands of food and beverage packages containing artificial colors and additives, marking the first such law in the United States.
The legislation takes a unique approach, focusing on more than 40 artificial colors and additives commonly used in food products. It requires companies to add high-contrast labels stating “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority” in countries like Australia, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
While some experts hail this move as a bold step towards addressing chronic disease and childhood illness, others express concerns that the labels could be misleading or create legal risks for brands. The food industry has lobbied against the provision, arguing it would drive consumer confusion and higher costs.
The federal government may preempt the new law in certain instances, such as if the FDA determines an ingredient is safe for human consumption. However, food safety advocates remain optimistic that this move will spark a national conversation about America’s health outcomes and encourage companies to reformulate ingredients or remove them altogether.
As other states like California and West Virginia have recently passed laws prohibiting certain artificial colors in food products, it’s likely that major companies will reevaluate their formulations. Kraft Heinz and Tyson Foods have already announced plans to remove artificial colors from their products, paving the way for potential changes across the industry.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/06/23/texas-maha-warning-labels